Space is vast, too large to really even comprehend by the scale that people living on Earth can comprehend.  As one of the most common settings for science fiction, this vastness is often addressed, but in light of that vastness, it can be interesting how something very simplistic can be so effective.  This has in a sense always been where the stories for the Silver Surfer have been the deepest and where the true complexities of the character reside.  Despite him being a large scale cosmic hero, it is in the small scale where he truly shines.

In this issue he joins a group of aliens residing on a planet in Galactus’ path.  After the previous issue which supposedly left him for dead, he is instead given a chance at redemption, at least in a way, for being the herald of Galactus as he consumed so many planets.  What is interesting about this issue is that it is not his small actions which define the simplistic quality of this story but rather those of his supporting cast, whether it be Dawn making a sacrifice of her own, or of a group of strangers coming together under a common bond.  As a science fiction story this fails a couple of times, notably by the ease in which six billion people can act, but just as a story in itself it succeeds.

With a renewed focus on the cosmic at Marvel, this issue acts as a lesson to those taking on these ambitious outer space projects.  Instead of always thinking in terms of planetary wars or of space battles, there can be simpler moments.  Granted, involving Galactus in anything puts the story on a bigger scale, but it is the human moments here which define this particular issue, and which let it succeed.

Story: Dan Slott and Michael Allred  Art: Laura Allred  
Story: 8.5 Art:  8.5 Overall: 8.5  Recommendation:  Buy